Areas of Interest and Expertise

Fellowship Program in Ophthalmic Pathology with Clinical and Basic Research

Research

Our Ophthalmic Pathology unit is very active in both basic science and clinical research with over 12 ongoing projects involving numerous collaborative studies. These projects include ocular neoplasia, inflammations and infections, degenerations, vascular disorders, infiltrations, congenital and hereditary anomalies, glaucoma, and trauma. The basic research at present includes immunohistochemical analyses on both ocular melanocytic and eyelid sebaceous neoplasms and is geared for presentation at the major meetings in my field of expertise, including ARVO, AAO/AAOOP and COS/COPS.

Laboratory work

The University of Ottawa Registry of Ophthalmic Pathology, which was initiated in 1971, receives ocular specimens from the hospitals associated with the University of Ottawa, many of the Ottawa regional hospitals, and from medical institutions across Canada and occasionally internationally.

Teaching

This includes undergraduate Medical School and the Ophthalmic Medical Technology B.Sc. Program at the University of Ottawa and especially postgraduate residency education. Didactic lectures using PowerPoint slides to demonstrate the clinical and corresponding pathologic findings of most ocular conditions are delivered annually in the postgraduate ophthalmology teaching course which is augmented by Grand Rounds, Professor Rounds and the “mock” oral examinations.

Fellowship

The University of Ottawa Eye Institute offers a one year funded Fellowship in Ophthalmic Pathology beginning in July each year. This position is open to individuals either prior to a residency in Ophthalmology or Pathology including immediately after graduation from medical school or to those who have completed their ophthalmology, pathology or other residency. The Fellow has the opportunity to learn to perform the various procedures in the Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory including gross, light, and electron microscopy, photomicroscopy, and immunohistochemistry. He/She participates in a number of clinically orientated research projects involving ophthalmic pathology. The Fellow has the opportunity to attend many local teaching sessions, rounds and conferences related to both specialties and generally participates in at least some of these rounds and conferences. The Fellow is also involved in the teaching program for our residents and the elective medical school students who rotate through the laboratory. Overall, we provide a very diversified and stimulating year with many research opportunities which should augment the future career of any of our fellows whether they decide to devote themselves to academic ophthalmology or pathology, another fellowship, or general ophthalmologic or pathologic practice.

Brownstein S. Pathology of proliferative conditions of the conjunctiva.

University of Ottawa Department of Laboratory Medicine (Pathology) Annual Research Day, Ottawa, ON, April 2011.

Jastrzebski A, Brownstein S, Jordan DR, Gilberg SM. Unsuspected ciliary body and choroidal melanoma diagnosed after evisceration and enucleation: A series of cases seen at the Ottawa Eye Institute from 1996-2010.

University of Ottawa Department of Ophthalmology Annual Research Day, Ottawa, ON, May 2011.

Jastrzebski A, Brownstein S, Jordan DR, Gilberg SM, Leonard B. Unsuspected ciliary body and choroidal melanoma diagnosed after evisceration and enucleation: A series of cases seen at the Ottawa Eye Institute from 1996-2010.

Jastrzebski A, Brownstein S, Jordan DR, Gilberg SM, Leonard B. Unsuspected ciliary body and choroidal melanoma diagnosed after evisceration and enucleation: A series of cases seen at the University of Ottawa Eye Institute from 1996-2010

Sally Letson Symposium, Ottawa, ON, Sept. 2011.

Brownstein S. Pathological highlights of selected glaucomas.

American Association of Ocular Oncologists and Pathologists (AAOOP, Satellite meeting of American Academy of Ophthalmology), Orlando, FL, Nov. 2011.